Dyspareunia, Urinary Sensory Symptoms, and Incontinence Among Young Chinese Women

This study examined the prevalence of dyspareunia, urinary sensory symptoms, and urinary incontinence and explored their associations among sexually active Chinese women aged 15–34 years. Data from 3,150 women were analyzed from a survey undertaken during 2003 in 30 counties in China as part of the United Nations Population Fund Country Program. The overall prevalence of dyspareunia was 4.7%. Urinary pain, burning or frequency was reported by 8.5%, 6.2% reported urinary incontinence, and 2.3% reported both sets of urinary symptoms. The prevalence of urinary incontinence, both alone and in combination with sensory symptoms, increased in a linear manner with age. Dyspareunia was associated with early sexual debut, primary level of education, and membership of minority ethnic communities. Urinary sensory symptoms and incontinence were more common among those reporting early sexual debut, those with less schooling, and women engaged in agricultural and manual unskilled occupations. Urinary incontinence was more common among women who had had a previous vaginal delivery compared to nulliparous women. Dyspareunia was strongly associated with the presence of urinary symptoms, particularly among those with both sensory symptoms and incontinence (26.8%). Nearly a quarter of women who had dyspareunia had sought treatment but fewer had done so for urinary incontinence. Dyspareunia and urinary symptoms show distinct but overlapping patterns of association with demographic variables. The findings indicate unmet need for assessment and advice about these symptoms in women’s reproductive health programs.